Men’s Soccer Picked Fifth In Patriot League Preseason Poll

Peter Ayers

Aug 21, 2014

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross men's soccer team was selected to finish fifth in the 2014 Patriot League preseason poll as voted on by head coaches and sports information directors from around the league. Defending Patriot League regular season and tournament champion, Navy, was selected as the preseason favorite with 161 points, including 17 first-place votes. Army (143 points, two first-place votes) and Bucknell (118 points, one first-place vote) followed in second and third, respectively. American (109 points) was fourth, the Crusaders (100 points) were fifth, Boston University (85 points) was sixth, Lafayette (57 points) was seventh, Loyola (Md.) (56 points) was eighth, Colgate (51 points) was ninth and Lehigh (20 points) was 10th.

Jamie Dubyoski of Navy was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Joseph Greenspan of Navy was selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

The top six teams as determined by the regular season will qualify for the Patriot League postseason tournament with the top two seeds earning byes to the semifinals. The No. 3 seed will host No. 6 and No. 4 will host No. 5 in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, Nov. 11. The top seed will host the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 14, and the championship on Sunday, Nov. 16. The winner advances to the NCAA Tournament with an automatic bid.

Holy Cross is scheduled to open the 2014 season when it hosts Hartford on Friday, Aug. 29 at 7:05 p.m. at the Linda Johnson Smith Soccer Stadium. The Crusaders return 15 letterwinners this fall, as seven freshmen have joined the team. Last season, the Crusaders went 9-9-2 overall, 6-3 in the Patriot League and made an appearance in the Patriot League championship game for the first time since 2008. The Crusaders' six Patriot League wins tied for their most ever.